13 Things hair stylists won't tell you

Like many professionals in their field, hair stylists have a few things they won't tell their clients. Reader's Digest found out 13 of them.

2 of 28

Like many professionals in their field, hair stylists have a few things they won't tell their clients. Reader's Digest found out 13 of them.

PHOTO: Susan Sermoneta/Flickr

3 of 28

The clients they dread the most are those who say things like, "Do whatever you want" or "I’m pretty easy to work with."

PHOTO: Kate Sumbler/Flickr

4 of 28

Nine times out of 10, it's not true.

PHOTO: Judy Baxter/Flickr

5 of 28

They know customers hate the word bleach, so they use words like lightener and decolorizer.

PHOTO: malloreigh/Flickr

6 of 28

But no matter how they prettify the language, if they're lifting a dark color out of your hair, they’re using bleach.

PHOTO: Sarah-rose/Flickr

7 of 28

Yes, they keep notes about you on your client card, and they can get pretty personal.

PHOTO: Ged Carroll/Flickr

8 of 28

They may note that you don’t tip well or that you talked loudly about how drunk you were last night. They may also write down that you’re going through a divorce or that you’re into tennis so they can remember to ask you about those things next time.

PHOTO: Librariananguish/Flickr

Advertisement

9 of 28

After you've been late a few times, they will ask their receptionist to say your appointment is at 2 p.m.

PHOTO: crunklyglll/Flickr

10 of 28

But it's really at 2:30 p.m.

PHOTO: Susan Sermoneta/Flickr

11 of 28

If there’s one rule to live by, it’s this: Don’t make your first appointment with your a new stylist on a Saturday.

PHOTO: Judy Baxter/Flickr

12 of 28

That’s the busiest day, and he/she won’t be able to give you the time and attention you want and deserve.

PHOTO: Carol Von Canon

13 of 28

Find out whether your salon offers a discount if you get a cut and a color together, and ask for one if it doesn't.

PHOTO: junehug/Flickr

14 of 28

Doing both together eliminates some steps and should save you about 20 percent.

15 of 28

It’s fine to use Groupon, or another social media site to save money on your hairstyling, but be wary of salons that offer deals all the time.

PHOTO: Don Park/Flickr

16 of 28

That's not a good sign.

PHOTO: Paul Swansen/Flickr

Advertisement

17 of 28

Thin hair doesn’t have to be worn short.

PHOTO: kiwinky/Flickr

18 of 28

One stylist told Reader's Digest she had a client who wore her super-thin hair short for years because she thought she had to. She finally talked her into growing it out into a stacked bob, and everyone now says she looks incredible.

PHOTO: ley dallimore/Flickr

19 of 28

Always dry your hair completely before using a hot tool like a curling iron or a flat iron.

PHOTO: Teeejayy/Flickr

20 of 28

If your hair still contains moisture, the iron will damage it.

PHOTO: Nar8iv/Scott W/Flickr

21 of 28

Sometimes when they don’t have a client’s color -- either because they’re out of it or because they forgot to write it down the previous time -- they don’t say anything and just mix something new.

PHOTO: Amanda/Flickr

22 of 28

If you think they're applying what you had before, you’re much less likely to complain.

PHOTO: Orin Zebest/Flickr

23 of 28

You may have heard you shouldn't wash your hair before getting an updo because a little grit can help maintain the style, but please don’t show up with hair that’s greasy, tangled or smelly.

PHOTO: Amy Alana Star/Flickr

24 of 28

Wash it the night before, and don’t put any styling products in it. That way, they can start fresh and create our own texture.

PHOTO: nicoretro/Flickr

Advertisement

25 of 28

Every year after school starts, at least one mom brings in her daughter with hair down to her waist and tells us to give her a pixie cut.

PHOTO: kannon/Flickr

26 of 28

They know what’s going on: a lice infestation. But when they point out the nits and tell the mom they can’t do the cut, she always acts surprised and says, “I didn't know.” They’re thinking, Yeah, right. To save the embarrassment for all involved, get the situation under control before your appointment.

PHOTO: Antonia Hayes/Flickr

27 of 28

They don’t "wash" your hair. They "shampoo" it.

PHOTO: U.S. Navy/Flickr

28 of 28

When they're trying to make you feel pampered, they can't use the same word you use for doing dishes.

Like many professionals in their field, hair stylists have a few things they won't tell their clients. Reader's Digest found out 13 of them.

Like many professionals in their field, hair stylists have a few things they won't tell their clients. Reader's Digest found out 13 of them.

PHOTO: Susan Sermoneta/Flickr

The clients they dread the most are those who say things like, "Do whatever you want" or "I’m pretty easy to work with."

PHOTO: Kate Sumbler/Flickr

Nine times out of 10, it's not true.

PHOTO: Judy Baxter/Flickr

They know customers hate the word bleach, so they use words like lightener and decolorizer.

PHOTO: malloreigh/Flickr

But no matter how they prettify the language, if they're lifting a dark color out of your hair, they’re using bleach.

PHOTO: Sarah-rose/Flickr

Yes, they keep notes about you on your client card, and they can get pretty personal.

PHOTO: Ged Carroll/Flickr

They may note that you don’t tip well or that you talked loudly about how drunk you were last night. They may also write down that you’re going through a divorce or that you’re into tennis so they can remember to ask you about those things next time.

PHOTO: Librariananguish/Flickr

After you've been late a few times, they will ask their receptionist to say your appointment is at 2 p.m.

PHOTO: crunklyglll/Flickr

But it's really at 2:30 p.m.

PHOTO: Susan Sermoneta/Flickr

If there’s one rule to live by, it’s this: Don’t make your first appointment with your a new stylist on a Saturday.

PHOTO: Judy Baxter/Flickr

That’s the busiest day, and he/she won’t be able to give you the time and attention you want and deserve.

PHOTO: Carol Von Canon

Find out whether your salon offers a discount if you get a cut and a color together, and ask for one if it doesn't.

PHOTO: junehug/Flickr

Doing both together eliminates some steps and should save you about 20 percent.

It’s fine to use Groupon, or another social media site to save money on your hairstyling, but be wary of salons that offer deals all the time.

PHOTO: Don Park/Flickr

That's not a good sign.

PHOTO: Paul Swansen/Flickr

Thin hair doesn’t have to be worn short.

PHOTO: kiwinky/Flickr

One stylist told Reader's Digest she had a client who wore her super-thin hair short for years because she thought she had to. She finally talked her into growing it out into a stacked bob, and everyone now says she looks incredible.

PHOTO: ley dallimore/Flickr

Always dry your hair completely before using a hot tool like a curling iron or a flat iron.

PHOTO: Teeejayy/Flickr

If your hair still contains moisture, the iron will damage it.

PHOTO: Nar8iv/Scott W/Flickr

Sometimes when they don’t have a client’s color -- either because they’re out of it or because they forgot to write it down the previous time -- they don’t say anything and just mix something new.

PHOTO: Amanda/Flickr

If you think they're applying what you had before, you’re much less likely to complain.

PHOTO: Orin Zebest/Flickr

You may have heard you shouldn't wash your hair before getting an updo because a little grit can help maintain the style, but please don’t show up with hair that’s greasy, tangled or smelly.

PHOTO: Amy Alana Star/Flickr

Wash it the night before, and don’t put any styling products in it. That way, they can start fresh and create our own texture.

PHOTO: nicoretro/Flickr

Every year after school starts, at least one mom brings in her daughter with hair down to her waist and tells us to give her a pixie cut.

PHOTO: kannon/Flickr

They know what’s going on: a lice infestation. But when they point out the nits and tell the mom they can’t do the cut, she always acts surprised and says, “I didn't know.” They’re thinking, Yeah, right. To save the embarrassment for all involved, get the situation under control before your appointment.

PHOTO: Antonia Hayes/Flickr

They don’t "wash" your hair. They "shampoo" it.

PHOTO: U.S. Navy/Flickr

When they're trying to make you feel pampered, they can't use the same word you use for doing dishes.

Like many professionals in their field, hair stylists have a few things they won't tell their clients. Reader's Digest found out 13 of them.

Like many professionals in their field, hair stylists have a few things they won't tell their clients. Reader's Digest found out 13 of them.

PHOTO: Susan Sermoneta/Flickr

The clients they dread the most are those who say things like, "Do whatever you want" or "I’m pretty easy to work with."

PHOTO: Kate Sumbler/Flickr

Nine times out of 10, it's not true.

PHOTO: Judy Baxter/Flickr

They know customers hate the word bleach, so they use words like lightener and decolorizer.

PHOTO: malloreigh/Flickr

But no matter how they prettify the language, if they're lifting a dark color out of your hair, they’re using bleach.

PHOTO: Sarah-rose/Flickr

Yes, they keep notes about you on your client card, and they can get pretty personal.

PHOTO: Ged Carroll/Flickr

They may note that you don’t tip well or that you talked loudly about how drunk you were last night. They may also write down that you’re going through a divorce or that you’re into tennis so they can remember to ask you about those things next time.

PHOTO: Librariananguish/Flickr

After you've been late a few times, they will ask their receptionist to say your appointment is at 2 p.m.

PHOTO: crunklyglll/Flickr

But it's really at 2:30 p.m.

PHOTO: Susan Sermoneta/Flickr

If there’s one rule to live by, it’s this: Don’t make your first appointment with your a new stylist on a Saturday.

PHOTO: Judy Baxter/Flickr

That’s the busiest day, and he/she won’t be able to give you the time and attention you want and deserve.

PHOTO: Carol Von Canon

Find out whether your salon offers a discount if you get a cut and a color together, and ask for one if it doesn't.

PHOTO: junehug/Flickr

Doing both together eliminates some steps and should save you about 20 percent.

It’s fine to use Groupon, or another social media site to save money on your hairstyling, but be wary of salons that offer deals all the time.

PHOTO: Don Park/Flickr

That's not a good sign.

PHOTO: Paul Swansen/Flickr

Thin hair doesn’t have to be worn short.

PHOTO: kiwinky/Flickr

One stylist told Reader's Digest she had a client who wore her super-thin hair short for years because she thought she had to. She finally talked her into growing it out into a stacked bob, and everyone now says she looks incredible.

PHOTO: ley dallimore/Flickr

Always dry your hair completely before using a hot tool like a curling iron or a flat iron.

PHOTO: Teeejayy/Flickr

If your hair still contains moisture, the iron will damage it.

PHOTO: Nar8iv/Scott W/Flickr

Sometimes when they don’t have a client’s color -- either because they’re out of it or because they forgot to write it down the previous time -- they don’t say anything and just mix something new.

PHOTO: Amanda/Flickr

If you think they're applying what you had before, you’re much less likely to complain.

PHOTO: Orin Zebest/Flickr

You may have heard you shouldn't wash your hair before getting an updo because a little grit can help maintain the style, but please don’t show up with hair that’s greasy, tangled or smelly.

PHOTO: Amy Alana Star/Flickr

Wash it the night before, and don’t put any styling products in it. That way, they can start fresh and create our own texture.

PHOTO: nicoretro/Flickr

Every year after school starts, at least one mom brings in her daughter with hair down to her waist and tells us to give her a pixie cut.

PHOTO: kannon/Flickr

They know what’s going on: a lice infestation. But when they point out the nits and tell the mom they can’t do the cut, she always acts surprised and says, “I didn't know.” They’re thinking, Yeah, right. To save the embarrassment for all involved, get the situation under control before your appointment.

PHOTO: Antonia Hayes/Flickr

They don’t "wash" your hair. They "shampoo" it.

PHOTO: U.S. Navy/Flickr

When they're trying to make you feel pampered, they can't use the same word you use for doing dishes.

PHOTO: Laura Weis/Flickr

13 Things hair stylists won't tell you

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 10:12 AM MST Jan 4, 2017

Advertisement

Like many professionals in their field, hair stylists have a few things they won't tell their clients. Reader's Digest found out 13 of them.